Fishing in the Cordova Area

Southcentral Region Department of Fish and Game

About Cordova Cordova is a small commercial fishing town (pop. 2,500) on the southeastern side of Prince William Sound, 52 air miles southeast of Valdez and 150 air miles southeast of Anchorage. The town can be reached only by air or by ferries. Check the Alaska Marine Highway website for more information about the ferries: www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs Alaska Natives originally settled the area around the Copper River Delta. The town of Cordova changed its name from Puerto Cordova in 1906 when the railroad was built to move copper ore. Commercial fishing has been a major industry The Scott River for Cordova since the 1940s, so please be careful around their boats and nets. The Division of Commercial Hotels, fishing charters, camping Fisheries offers a wealth of information on their website, For information about fishing charters, accommoda- including in-season harvest information at www.adfg. tions and other services in Cordova, contact the Chamber alaska.gov . of Commerce and Visitor’s Center at P.O. Box 99, Cordova, Bears are numerous in the Cordova area and anglers Alaska, 99574, (907) 424-7260 or cordovachamber.com. The should use caution when fishing salmon spawning areas. City of Cordova also runs an excellent website at www. Check the ADF&G website for the “Bear Facts” brochure, cityofcordova.net . or request one from the ADF&G Anchorage regional office. Anglers who fillet fish along a river are encouraged to chop up the fish carcass and throw the pieces into fast Management of Alaska’s flowing water. sport fisheries The Cordova area can be very rainy. Waterproof gear The Division of Sport Fish is charged with the manage- and changes of clothing are strongly recommended. July ment of Alaska’s sport fisheries under the sustained yield and August are the warmest months, with temperatures principle, through regulations and management plans ad- ranging 60-65 degrees F. August and September are the opted by the Alaska Board of Fisheries. Enforcement of fish- rainiest months, with 9-13 inches of precipitation each ing regulations is primarily the responsibility of the Alaska month. There’s a telephone recorded weather forecast at Dept. of Public Safety, State Troopers’ Bureau of Wildlife (907) 424-3333. Enforcement. Management of Prince William Sound and Cordova area fisheries is divided between the Anchorage and Cordova offices. Forest Service officials also act as enforcement agents in the Cordova area.

Division of Sport fish Anchorage, Alaska Alaganik Slough

At times the Division issues in-season regulatory changes, are sold, and posted on the ADF&G Division of Sport Fish called Emergency Orders, primarily in response to under- or home page at www.adfg.alaska.gov. Be sure your have your over-abundance of fish. Emergency Orders are sent to radio sport fishing license or ADF&G Permanent ID Card in your stations, newspapers, and television stations, and posted on possession. Also, anglers need to purchase a king salmon our web site at www.adfg.alaska.gov . stamp to fish for king salmon (exceptions are listed in the We also maintain hot line recording at (907) 267-2516 regulation booklet). Anchorage, or (907) 424-7535 Cordova. Or you can contact On the Copper River road system, bait can not be used the Anchorage Sport Fish Information Center at (907) 267- once you have caught your limit of coho salmon. A coho 2218 or the Cordova Sport Fish office at (907) 424-3212. salmon that is removed from the water must be retained and becomes part of the daily bag limit of the person who Fishing regulations originally hooked the fish. Regulations are often different for each water you fish. Please read the Prince William Sound section of the South- Licenses and stamps can be purchased at most grocery central Alaska regulation booklet before heading out to fish. stores and tackle shops or on-line at www.adfg.alaska.gov/ Regulation booklets are available wherever fishing licenses Store/ .

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game administers all programs and activities free from discrimination based on race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, or disability. The department administers all programs and activities in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility, or if you desire further information These opportunities please write to ADF&G, P.O. Box 115526, Juneau, AK 99811-5526; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, funded in part by Federal Suite 300 Webb, Arlington, VA 22203; or O.E.O., U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington DC 20240. Aid in Sport Fish and Wild- For information on alternative formats for this and other department publications, please contact the department ADA life Restoration. Coordinator at (voice) 907-465-6077, (TDD) 907-465-3646, or (FAX) 907-465-6078. Fish Identification Catch & Release Silver salmon or king salmon? Pelagic rockfish or non- There are restrictions on the landing and the catch-and- pelagic rockfish? You’ll find a fish identification guide in release of certain fish — read the regulations before heading the Southcentral Alaska regulation booklet. out to fish. Released fish have the best chance of survival when the following simple guidelines are followed: “Party” Fishing • Use strong tackle and heavy line to land the fish quickly. Party fishing, such as when anglers “pool” their harvest to achieve a “boat limit,” is illegal. A fish belongs to the • Do not handle the fish by its gills or the gill plates. person who originally hooked it. Under Alaska law, once • Keep the fish in the water, od not boat or land the fish. your daily bag limit is reached, you cannot harvest more For some species, this is a regulation. fish “for the boat.” • Handle the fish gently. Only under certain conditions can anglers can give • Back the hook out. someone their fish, and sport-caught fish can never be • Cut your line if the fish is deeply hooked sold, bartered or traded. Check the regulation booklet for the rules on giving away fish. Once an angler gives away • Move the fish back and forth until it is revived and swims his/her bag limit, he/she may not harvest additional fish away. of that species on the same day. Red (sockeye) salmon Small runs of red salmon are available in the Sound during most of the summer, and reds are the first salmon to return Fresh Waters to Cordova streams. Juvenile red salmon may spend up to Cordova’s road system consists of a roughly 37-mile four years rearing in freshwater lakes before becoming smolt stretch of dirt and gravel road from town heading toward and moving out to sea. Once at sea, they reach 4 to 12 pounds the “Million Dollar Bridge,” which crosses the Copper after one to four years. River at Miles Lake. Productive red (sockeye) salmon, Good numbers of adult reds begin returning to Eyak silver (coho) salmon, rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, River in late May and early June, and various later runs in and Dolly Varden char freshwater streams such as Clear the Eyak provide red salmon through August. Reds return Creek, Ibeck Creek, and the Eyak River are easily acces- to Alaganik Slough, McKinley Lake area, and Clear Creek sible from this road. from mid-June through early July, with the peak of the run Most of the fresh waters of Prince William Sound occurring in late June. Anglers can fish from both shore and and the Cordova area are open the entire year to salmon boats in Alaganik Slough. Boats can be launched at points fishing. There are a few closed waters, so please check along the road that parallels the slough, as well as a U.S. the current regulation booklet carefully before heading Forest Service boat ramp. out to fish.

Saltwater Fishing The marine waters of Orca Inlet, Simpson Bay and Sheep Bay also provide opportunity for king (Chinook) salmon, silver salmon, and red salmon. Halibut, rockfish and lingcod can also be found as close as Spike Island, located just outside the boat harbor, and along the coast- lines of the numerous islands in eastern Prince William Sound. A stout fishing rod and jigs or cut herring are the best choices for tackle. Although Prince William Sound is closed to all crab fishing, it is open to shrimping. Razor clams are also available, as well as a wide variety of hardshell clams such as littleneck and butter clams. For PSP advisories, contact the Department of Environmental Conservation at (907) 269-7640 or on the web at http://dec.alaska.gov/ . Power Creek Tackle These fish are perfect for medium-action spinning SPECIAL SILVER SALMON BAG LIMITS gear, or 8- 9-wt. fly rods. Because reds are not aggressive NEAR CORDOVA biters, size 2-6 streamer flies such as the Mickey Finn Stocked as smolt by Prince William Sound Aquaculture or the Russian River Coho have proven to be the most Association, silver salmon returns to the Fleming Spit area productive technique for catching red salmon, even for have become very popular. those with spin casting rods. In fresh water, reds tend to Marine waters north of a line from Odiak Slough to Stump hug the shore, so save your 50-yard casts for surf fishing. Point, and south of a line from Orca Cannery to Knot Point are King (Chinook) salmon designated a "Terminal Harvest" area. Because this is a terminal King salmon return at different ages. Some, called harvest area, daily limits are higher than in the rest of Eastern “jacks,” return after only one year in salt waters. These Prince William Sound. Check the regulation booklet. fish weigh only 1-2 pounds and are almost always males. Others return after two years at about 5-15 pounds. Most of these are also males. The majority of kings, however, or third years, the young fish, now called smolt, migrate to return after three and four years at sea at a weight of 25- salt water. They remain in marine waters about 14 months 45 pounds. before returning to fresh waters as 8- to 12-pound adults to Stocked king salmon are available at Fleming Spit in spawn. Because PWS streams experience severe flooding mid-June and remain through mid-July. Popular methods from time to time, wild stocks have been and will continue include larger lures and spoons, such as ½- to 2-oz. Pixees, to be extremely variable. Dardevles, Vibrax, or herring under a bobber. Fishing is Late August and early September are the best silver fish- best off the shore of the spit during the four hours around ing times. Good spots are Elsinore Creek, Ibeck Creek, Eyak high tide. Trolling anglers often add a dodger/flasher. River, as well as Fleming Spit and Orca Inlet just north of The most significant run of wild king salmon returns to town. Alaganik Slough and Clear Creek, especially where the glacial Copper River, east of Cordova. Although there it flows into the Copper River, also provide excellent road- is a commercial king fishery at the mouth, most sport side silver fishing. From 1990-1999, the average yearly silver fishing targeting kings takes place far upriver. salmon harvest from the Cordova road system was 8,700. Wild “feeder” king salmon can sometimes be caught Fishing for salmon of all species on Clear Creek is closed near Cordova salt waters by trolling in mid- to late win- upstream of the Carbon Mountain Bridge. ter. Try to find areas where herring are overwintering and Silvers strike readily at lures, salmon roe, and streamer troll very slowly near these schools. flies, making these aggressive and hard fighting a prime Pink (humpy) salmon target of sport anglers. There are over 200 streams in Prince William Sound Chum (dog) salmon that support natural runs of pink salmon. In addition, four Chum salmon have the widest distribution of any of the private nonprofit hatcheries produce pink salmon. Pinks Pacific salmon, and utilize the broadest spawning areas, both return to the Sound from mid-June through late August, intertidal and freshwater. Like pink salmon, chum salmon with the peak typically occurring in late July. Noteworthy juveniles also quickly move out to nearshore salt waters soon Cordova-area pink salmon fisheries occur at Sawmill Bay after emerging from the gravel. Chum feed in ocean waters on Evans Island, and below Hartney Creek bridge on the for 3 to 6 years before returning as 7 to 18 pound fish. Cordova road system. In the Cordova area, chum are usually taken by anglers Pinks are excellent sport action, aggressively biting targeting other species of salmon. Chums are especially hard at any Pixee, Daredevl, or Tee-Spoon-type lure, or at any fighters that will take a variety of flies and lures. large flashy fly. Halibut Silver (coho) salmon Halibut spawn in deep offshore waters from November Wild silver salmon spawn in Cordova’s freshwater through March. After hatching, the larvae drift with ocean streams August through October. After spawning, the currents, feeding on plankton then larger and larger fish and adult fish die, leaving their eggs to hatch the following shellfish. The larvae start life in an upright position, like spring. Juvenile salmon remain in fresh waters that sum- other fish, with an eye on each side of the head. When the mer and following winter. In the spring of their second larvae are about 6 months old, the left eye moves over the snout to the right side of the head, and the coloration on the found in Eyak Lake and its tributaries, Ibeck Creek, Alaganik left side of the body fades. Slough, and Clear Creek, although a majority of the roadside Halibut are found throughout Eastern Prince William streams and lakes have Dolly Varden. Sound waters, on or near the bottom over mud, sand, or These fish average 12 to 20 inches long. Dollies readily hit gravel banks and below steep drop-offs. From 1990-1999, the small spinners, single eggs, and salmon roe. Popular flies in- average yearly sport harvest for the Cordova area was 2,400. clude nymph and midge patterns fished both wet and dry, as Most popular methods include herring or fish heads on a well as salmon smolt or egg imitations. circle hook, or large white jigs. Average weight of harvested fish ranges from 8-75 pounds, although fish 350 pounds and Cutthroat Trout over are sometimes caught. Prince William Sound is probably the most northern and western extreme of the natural range for cutthroat trout, and Rockfish and Lingcod the populations are small and scattered. Pipeline and McKin- Both rockfish and lingcod are found throughout Cordova ley lakes and Alaganik Slough are the most popular fisheries. area waters. These fish are extremely long-lived and slow The cutthroat gets its name from its distinctive red slash to reproduce. Some rockfish have been aged at over 100 underneath the jaw. Both resident and sea-run cutthroat trout years old. Careful management is required for sustainable are present near Cordova, and range 9" to 18" long. fisheries, and there are special fishing regulations for both Small spinners or spoons, single eggs, and nymph-type flies, rockfish and lingcod. all fished deep, are popular for catching cutthroat. Rockfish are commonly caught while fishing for halibut To help protect spawning cutthroat trout, the season is over rocky structure. There are 32 species of rockfish that live closed April 15 through June 14 in all waters of Prince Wil- in the Gulf of Alaska, but only about 10 species are regularly liam Sound. caught in the sport fishery. Lingcod spawn December through March, with males Arctic Grayling guarding nests through June. Without this protection, other Clear Creek is the only Cordova-area flowing water where fish and shellfish would eat all the eggs within days. Males grayling can be reliably found. Some fish may be found on the are very defensive during this time, and will snap at anything, Copper River Delta as well. Stocking efforts along the Copper thus making them more vulnerable to overharvest. River Highway have been discontinued, but grayling may still Adult lingcod are often caught near steep rocky banks be found in Sheridan Dike Pond. by anglers jigging for halibut. In Eastern PWS, fish up to 30 pounds are caught. Shellfish Crab Dolly Varden Char There is a Subsistence Golden King crab and Tanner crab Dolly Varden are available in most of the Cordova area fishery in Prince William Sound open to Alaska residents. The streams throughout the year. Two distinct populations season is October 1 through March 31. Permits are available at of Dolly Varden are present in Prince William Sound. ADF&G offices in Cordova and Anchorage. Resident Dolly Varden spend their entire lives in fresh water. Anadro- mous, or sea-run, Dolly Varden spend their first few years in fresh water and then migrate to the ocean to feed. Sea-run Dollies return to spawn in the fall, remain in fresh water lakes through the winter, and then return to the ocean the following spring. The best fishing is Washed out bridge at mile 36. Often called "36 Mile Bridge." Shrimping in Prince William Sound Shrimp Bay, Bligh Reef, Columbia Bay, Unakwik Inlet, Glacier There are five species of shrimp in Alaskan waters: Island, and Port Gravina. northern (pink), spot, coonstripe, humpy, and sidestripe. Over 10,700 gallons of shrimp were harvested in 2004. In Prince William Sound, spot and sidestripe shrimp Most harvesters get about 0 to 1 gallons of shrimp per are the main species caught in recreational shrimp pots, pot-day of effort. Less than 5% of harvesters get 2 or while northern shrimp are usually caught by commercial more gallons. shrimp pots. For more information, request a copy of “Prince Wil- ADF&G data show that most shrimp harvest comes liam Sound Shrimp” from ADF&G, or download a copy from Port Nellie Juan, Culross Passage, Squaw Bay, Blue from the website. There are regulations on bouys, pot Fjord, King’s Bay, Port Wells, Bay of Isles, McClure Bay, construction and pot limits, please check the regulation Derickson Bay, Deep Water Bay, Cochrane Bay, Knowles booklet.

No Felt Sole Wading Boots Footgear with absorbant felt or other fiber material on the soles is now prohibited while sport fishing in the freshwaters of Alaska. • The interwoven fibers of felt absorb water and can trap diseases and invasive species. • Felt fibers stay moist long after being removed from the water; some diseases and invasive species can live in this environment for weeks.

Pacific Salmon Marine Phase Identification Please note, when salmon enter fresh water they undergo significant physical changes including changes in coloration. This chart is intended to help anglers identify salmon by species. However, it is the angler’s responsibility to be able to positively identify the speciesPacific at any point Salmon in its life cycle. ID – Marine Phase

Chinook (king) • Mouth is dark with a black gum line • Large, sharp teeth • Spots on both lobes of tail • Large spots on back

Coho (silver) • Mouth is light with a white gum line • Medium size, sharp teeth • Spots only on upper lobe of tail • Spots on back • Wide caudal peduncle

Pink (humpy) • Mouth is white with a black gum line. • In marine areas, almost no teeth • Large oval spots on both lobes of tail • Large black spots on back • Pointed lower jaw • No silver on tail • Very small scales

Chum (dog) • Mouth is white with a white gum line • Well developed teeth • No spots on tail or back • Calico markings (vertical bars) – faint on bright fish • Narrow caudal peduncle • White tip on anal fin

Sockeye (red) • Mouth is white with a white gum line • Almost toothless • No spots on tail or back • Large, bright gold, glassy eye Characteristics of Salmon during the Spawning Phase

Silver or Coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch) King or Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

Pink (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)

Red or Sockeye (Oncorhynchus nerka) Chum (Oncorhynchus keta)

Cordova area fisheries EYAK RIVER Red Salmon Late May through late July. Silver Salmon Early August through late September.

CORDOVA ROADSIDE Red Salmon Early July through late July. Silver Salmon Early August through late September. FLEMING SPIT King Salmon Late May through early July. Silver Salmon Mid-July through early September.

MARINE FISHERIES Halibut Peak early June - mid-August.Closed in January. Lingcod Peak early July - late September. Closed Jan. 1 - June 30. Rockfish Available year-round. Shrimp Available April 15 - September 15.

For information about camping, accommodations, fishing guides, and other visitor services, contact the agencies listed in this publication, or the Alaska Travel Industry Association at 2600 Cordova Street, Suite 201, Anchorage, Alaska, 99503 web: www.travelalaska.com email: [email protected]

Recreational Fishing Series produced by: Southcentral Region 333 Raspberry Road (907) 267-2218 Alaska Department of Fish and Game Anchorage, Alaska 99518 M-F 8am - 5 pm Division of Sport Fish Sport Fish Info. Center Except on state & federal holidays

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